Improvement in wrenches



ttuited tant @anni @il WILLIAM SYDNEY SMooT, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or CoLUr/IBIA. I

Letters Patent No. 84,1424, dated November 17, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT 'IN WRENCHES.

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part of the saune. 4W-

To all whom it may concern.

' Be it known that I, WILLIAM SYDNEY SMooT, of Washington, in the District of` Columbia., have in- Vented a new and improved Form of Combined Claw- Hammer, Wrench, and Screw-Driver, of' which the following is a full and exact description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong, convenient, and cheap. instrument for the use of farmers and others having but few tools, which shall be a claw-hammer, for driving and pulling` out nails, and, at the same time, capable of being transformed into a monkey-wrench, or pipe-wrench, or screw-driver.

I am aware that, previous to my invention, a wrenchattachment has been applied to claw-hammers; b'ut this arrangement is not strong, nor has any provision been made for grasping pipes or round nuts.

I am'also aware that wrenches have been made, adapted to be used for-turning either nuts or pipes; but this has been done by hinging-a knuckle to the back` of the sliding jaw, or by hinging the sliding jaw to a collar, and forming teeth in the face of the jaw.

Both of these arrangements-involve the use of a number of pieces, and are consequently expensive to manufacture, and more easily broken than the wrench I am about-to describe. In addition to this, the teeth necessary to the operation of the latter ofthe abovementioned arrangements are apt to scar and deface new. nuts.

I have found that, by a simple construction of the' sliding jaw itself, I am enabled to dispense with all joints or hinges, and still produce an equally efficient tool.

The'hammer-head A and handle B may be madeof malleable or wrought-iron or steel, or the head may be of steel, with an iron handle, firmly secured in a slot therein. The back of this head is formed into a claw, A', and between the claw and shank B is a V-shapedv depresintended that these teeth should be formed in the metal of the jaw, but, for convenience of manufacture, they may be inserted in a separate piece.

The slot through which the shank or handle B passes is of a peculiar shape, which I will describe particularly, as being an important feature of my invention.

The red dotted lines, Figure 1, and the section, Figure 3, show the shape of this slot, by which it is 'seen that the side of the slot in rear of the shank is parallel with the same, but that the side m n, infront, is so formed as to nearly iit the shank at n, but is considerably enlarged at m.

The object of this arrangement is that, :when used as a nut-wrench, the jaw is conned at n, and, its rear fitting the back of the shank, no yielding of the face of the j aw is possible; but, when used as a pipe-wrench, the jaw C yields as the wrench is tightened, unt the side m comes against the face of the shank, and if, n ow, pressure be applied to turn the pipe, the ,jaw C is forced in, and the grasp of the wrench tightened, as by a knuckle-joint.

In the nut D are drilled holes h h, to lighten it, and provide for the insertion of a lever, when it is wished to obtain greater power in tightening the Wrench than can be' applied by turning the nut with the fingers.

I know that, previous to my invention, wrenches have been made which could be used as a nut or pipewrench, as a claw-hammer for driving and pulling nails, and as a screw-driver; also, that the ordinary clawhammer has had a wrench-attachment adapted toit, and that screw-wrencheshave been made which were adapted to be used for griping pipes, by' having their sliding jaw pivoted to a collar, and capable of yielding or being forced in toward the shank, thus acting as a knuckle-joint.

All of the above arrangements I disclaim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A wrench, constructed with a head, A, handle B, and sliding jaw C, when arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

W. S. SMOOT.

Witnesses l PETER MoGINNEss, REDEIN PHILLIPS. 

